The North Dakota Chapter of the March of Dimes (MOD) is pleased to announce that Cassie Skalicky has been named as its NICU Family Support Specialist. Skalicky will be based at the Essentia Health Fargo hospital campus, which offers the only March of Dimes NICU Family Support program in the state.

In conjunction with its national Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes had developed NICU Family Support program to provide information and comfort to families with a critically ill child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Guided by former NICU families, the program is built on a family-centered philosophy and is implemented nationwide through March of Dimes chapters. It addresses the needs of parents, siblings, grandparents and the extended family throughout the hospitalization, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn death. The program provides them with parent-to-parent support to families within the NICU setting, sensitive and engaging educational materials that introduce parents to the staff, equipment, procedures and conditions that they may encounter in the NICU, in addition to enhancing programs to better serve the specific needs of each NICU and the populations it supports. This includes support and preparation for those with high-risk pregnancies, information and support for siblings and the extended family, support for Spanish-speaking families, a photo keepsake program, easing the transition from NICU to home, and bereavement support. As the NICU Family Support Specialist, Skalicky will also serve NICU staff with professional development opportunities.

Skalicky graduated fromMinnesotaStateUniversity-Moorheadwith a BS in Psychology and a Masters in Public and Human Services and Health Administration.  Skalicky’s own personal experience relates to how she became involved in the March of Dimes NICU Family Support program. She and her husband, Jason, have a nine-year old daughter named Grace and a three-year old son named Andrew.  Andrew spent 137 days in the NICU and is a twin to their daughter, Natalie, who passed away 11 ½ hours after they were born at 23 weeks 3 days.

Skalicky is passionate about her family and enjoys playing the keyboard and singing in her church’s praise band, teaching Sunday school, and painting.  Her works have been displayed at numerous coffee shops and wine bars in theFargoarea.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit www.marchofdimes.com.

WhereYourMoneyGoes

When you donate to the March of Dimes, you help babies and families! Rest assured that every dollar you give is greatly appreciated — and used wisely. Watch this video to find out where your money goes, and be sure to share it with your friends and March for Babies donors. It’s important to remind them how hard their donations are working! http://bit.ly/XkBqut

First Baby Of 2013 Has Great Expectations – March of Dimes Celebrates 75 Years of Healthy Births

         December 2012 — Babies born in 2013 have a better chance for a long and healthy life than earlier generations, thanks to 75 years of health advances, made possible in part by the March of Dimes. 

The March of Dimes says babies born next year will live longer and are less likely to have a birth defect than those born 75 years ago.  They are also much less likely to die from an infectious disease thanks to widespread use of vaccinations to prevent polio, rubella, measles and several other infections.

The March of Dimes was founded in January 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A polio sufferer himself, FDR founded the organization to “lead, direct and unify” the fight against polio. The March of Dimes funded the development of the Salk vaccine which was tested in 1954 and licensed a year later, as well as the Sabin vaccine which became available in 1962. Nearly all babies born today still receive this lifesaving injection.  More information about March of Dimes history can be found at marchofdimes.com/75.

“The birth of a baby is a special moment for every family. Babies born today and in future generations will live longer and healthier lives, in part, because of 75 years of March of Dimes commitment to the health of mothers and babies,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse president of the March of Dimes. “Today, we are hard at work to prevent premature birth, which affects nearly a half million babies every year, so that one day all babies will get a healthy start in life.”

Each of the four million babies born in the United States this and every year benefits from March of Dimes research, education and work to give all babies a healthier start in life. Babies born in 2013 can expect to live about 78 years, 14 years longer than an infant born in 1938, when the life expectancy was only 64.  They are also almost 8 times less likely to die in infancy.  Babies born next year also will be screened for 31 genetic, metabolic, hormonal and/or functional conditions, including PKU (phenylketonuria) within the first hours of birth. March of Dimes grantee Dr. Robert Guthrie developed the mass PKU test, the first of many newborn screening tests infants now receive, and allowed for prevention of intellectual disabilities through diet. Today, every baby born in every state in the U.S. receives screening for dozens of conditions that could cause catastrophic health problems or death if not detected and then treated promptly at birth.

Many serious birth defects have declined over these 75 years. For example, neural tube defects or NTDs (birth defects of the brain and spine) have decreased by nearly one-third since 1998, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated that grain foods such as bread and pasta be fortified with folic acid.

The March of Dimes is working to prevent the epidemic of premature birth.  Through Strong Start, a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes has been getting out the word that “Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait.” The campaign urges women to wait for labor to begin on its own if their pregnancy is healthy, rather than scheduling delivery before 39 completed weeks of pregnancy.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The nation’s premature birthrate is the lowest in a decade, but it is still above the March of Dimes’ goal of 9.6%.

The nation’s premature birthrate is 11.7% of all live births — the lowest in a decade, according to figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. The March of Dimes has set a goal of 9.6% by 2020.

“We’re on the right track,” having reversed a trend that included increases every year for decades,” says Jennifer Howse, president of the non-profit pregnancy and baby health group. Its 9.6% goal reflects the adoption of measures such as getting mothers to stop smoking and providing access to prenatal care.

In 2006, the nation’s preterm birthrate peaked at 12.8% after rising steadily for more than two decades.  Preterm birth (before 37 weeks of completed pregnancy) is the leading cause of infant death during the first month of life.

Having 64,000 fewer preterm babies born from 2006 to 2010 resulted in healthier babies as well as a potential savings of roughly $3 billion in health care and economic costs, the report says.

Key signs of  improvement in this year’s report:

– Four states (Vermont, Oregon, New Hampshire and Maine) earned an “A” for meeting the 9.6% goal; in 2010, only Vermont earned the top grade.

– 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico posted improved preterm birthrates from 2009 to 2011, earning 16 of them better grades.

–The states with the highest preterm birthrates — Mississippi (16.9%), Louisiana (15.6%), Alabama (14.9%)  —  are among 48 states, along with Puerto Rico (17.5%) and the District of Columbia (13.7%) that have all formally set goals to lower their preterm rates 8% by 2014 from their 2009 rates.

Although the preterm birthrate “is not good enough yet,” Howse says, “there now is genuine national momentum and leadership to just stay at it until we get the job done.”

Key factors that continue to drive the rate of premature births in the USA include maternal smoking, insufficient access to prenatal health care services and late preterm births (infants born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation).

Though late preterm babies are usually healthier than babies born earlier, they are three times more likely to die in the first year of life than full-term infants, the March of Dimes says. About 8% of deliveries are late-preterm, sometimes the result of medically unnecessary elective inductions and Cesarean sections.

“It’s very, very important to try to support pregnancies so babies can be born as close to 39/40 weeks as possible,” says pediatrics professor Deborah Campbell, director of Neonatology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.

Just because a baby makes it to 37/38 weeks, “what we call full term,” doesn’t  mean that they are fully developed, Campbell says. “These babies are more likely to end up in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), more likely to have acute health issues, and now we’re finding, more likely to have issues as they reach school age.”

“Babies need those extra weeks for full development of the brain and lungs,” Howse says, adding that unless it is a medical necessity, women should wait until at least 39 weeks to schedule an induced labor or C-section.

Worldwide, 15 million babies are born too soon each year and more than 1 million of those infants die as a result. The USA ranked 131 out of 184 countries in premature births according to a May 2012 report by the March of Dimes, Save The Children and others.

I am an international student from MSUM, majoring in Community Health. I am an intern for the fall 2012 at March of Dimes in Fargo. I am thoroughly enjoying each and every day, as I get to work with the variety of projects. This semester I would be accomplishing a lot of projects with March of Dimes. I feel honored to work with a very experienced supervisor and friendly staff members in promoting healthy pregnancy in the state of North Dakota. The NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Family Support program will also be interesting to learn more about, where we provide information and support to the families that have a critically ill baby. All in all, I will be doing a lot to promote healthy pregnancy, making brochures and educational posters, setting up booths at the colleges and community health fairs, helping with the Smoke-Free ND campaign, and much more.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of women of childbearing age, infants and children by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes supports a yes vote on Measure 4 on the November ballot to ban all smoking in all places of employment.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2006 report, “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke,” exposure to secondhand smoke by non-smoking pregnant women may lead to premature birth.

Premature birth affects one in every nine babies born in North Dakota, making it one of the most serious health problems facing our state today. The Institute of Medicine reports that in 2005, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational and lost productivity) associated with preterm births in the United States was at least $26.2 billion. During that same year, the average first-year medical costs, including both inpatient and outpatient care, were about 10 times greater for preterm ($32,325) than for term infants ($3,325).

In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, a key contributor to infant mortality.

We urge all North Dakota voters to vote yes on Measure 4.

WHITE PLAINS, NY, OCT. 3, 2012 –  Preterm births fell for the fifth straight year in 2011, and the improvement was across the board — every racial and ethnic group benefitted, and there were fewer preterm babies born at all stages of pregnancy, according to preliminary birth data released today by the National Center for Health Statistics.

The US preterm birth rate peaked in 2006 at 12.8, after rising steadily for more than two decades and dropped by more than 8 percent to 11.7 in 2011. The March of Dimes estimates that this single year improvement means about 16,000 babies were spared the health consequences of an early birth.

“About 64,000 fewer babies were born preterm in 2010, when compared to 2006, the peak year.  All this improvement means not just healthier babies, but also a potential savings of roughly $3 billion in health care and economic costs to society,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “The March of Dimes credits this success to prevention efforts by its many partners including state and local health departments and hospitals.”

Despite the continued improvement in prevention of preterm births, an estimated 460,000 babies were born preterm in the United States last year.  Preterm birth, (before 37 weeks of completed pregnancy,) is the leading cause of newborn death (death in the first month of life) and is the second leading cause of infant death (death in the first year). Babies who survive face an increased risk of life-long health challenges, including cerebral palsy, breathing problems, intellectual disabilities and other problems.

The March of Dimes set a goal of lowering the national preterm birth to 9.6 percent of all births by 2020. The March of Dimes says this goal can be achieved by a combination of activities: giving all women of childbearing age access to health care coverage, fully implementing proven interventions to reduce the risk of an early birth, such as not smoking during pregnancy, getting preconception and early prenatal care, progesterone treatments for women who are medically eligible, avoiding multiples from fertility treatments, avoiding elective c-sections and inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy unless medically necessary, and by accelerating investment for  new research on causes prevention of preterm birth.

Through Strong Start, a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes has been working to promote its Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® campaign, which urges women and health care providers to avoid scheduling a medically unnecessary delivery before 39 weeks of pregnancy because important development of the brain, lungs and other organs occur during the last few weeks.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The March of Dimes North Dakota Chapter is now accepting applications for their 2013 Community Grants Program. The goal of the community grants program is to identify and fund community-based programs addressing the health concerns of pregnant women and infants in the state of North Dakota.  Priority will be given to applications that address premature birth prevention, particularly late preterm birth in ND and disparately high preterm birth rates among Native American women.

Community Grants can be made to support activities such as: implementation of March of Dimes community programs (e.g. Coming of the Blessing, and Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien®), purchase and distribution of March of Dimes health education materials, implementation of our 39 Week Toolkit, or a conference for health professionals.  Grant applications are due October 22^nd and may be obtained via our website, www.marchofdimes.com/northdakota, by calling the March of Dimes office at 701-235-5530, or by clicking here. Each award will be between $500 – $3000.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.

March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer Howse (left) presents North Dakota Chapter State Director, Karin Roseland (right) with the 2011 Chapter of the Year Award for Public Affairs.

The March of Dimes North Dakota Chapter was named Chapter of the Year in Public Affairs last month at the March of Dimes Summer Staff Conference in Florida.  The 2011 award in the small chapters category recognized North Dakota for its work on two legislative issues: protecting tobacco prevention funds and ensuring all babies born in North Dakota receive crucial newborn screening tests.

“March of Dimes volunteers continue to make a difference in the lives of infants and children across North Dakota,” said Janess Sveet, March of Dimes Public Affairs Chair and long time volunteer.  “We’re proud of and thankful for the volunteers and staff who supported these efforts.”

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Jane Millikan, March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist

March of Dimes has named Jane Millikan to the position of NICU Family Support Specialist for its North Dakota Chapter office.  As NFS Specialist, she will provide emotional support, information, and education to families with a baby in the NICU at Essentia Health in Fargo.

Millikan most recently has been Chaplain Coordinator at Hospice of the Red River Valley.  Jane has a BA from Oberlin College, and an M.Div. from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.